Every year, there are around 2.7 million injuries in America’s workplaces. So it’s good to be prepared and act calmly but with confidence. If you follow all the right procedures, you’ll get the worker’s compensation you deserve. Below, find the steps you should take if you’re ever injured at work.
Gather Evidence
As with any legal case, evidence is everything. If you don’t have it, you can’t win. So as soon as the accident occurs, start thinking about evidence. Make a noise and attract the attention of others around you. Get them to confirm what they’ve just witnessed immediately. Be sure to record witnesses giving their accounts. The sooner they do, the more reliable the information will be.
Take photos of the scene. This isn’t just for use as evidence but will help you remember exactly what happens when writing your statement. Any misremembered details can harm your case, so gather photographic evidence as a way to describe the incident accurately. But, again, this will put you in the driving seat later on when claiming compensation.
Contact Your Employer
The first point of contact after you’ve dealt with any physical injuries, the first point of contact should be your employer. This could be your line manager, a member of the HR department, or the company’s CEO. Write to them explaining what happened and asking what they can do for you. In many cases, accidents like these are resolved internally.
Make sure that your employer understands what happened. They may be reasonable enough to offer compensation. Ensure they’re taking steps to prevent this accident from happening again. If unsatisfied, let your employer know you’ll pursue legal action.
Contact Your Attorney
In many cases, it’s necessary to contact a lawyer. No one wants to do this, but it’s often the best way to resolve an issue. They’ll have a wealth of experience to draw on. They can examine the case in detail, research the local law, and let you know what you’re entitled to. All too often, going alone achieves unfair results, so it’s important to reach out to an attorney.
You can find experienced workers’ compensation lawyers online. First, make sure they’re specialized in work-related injuries so that you know they fully understand the law. Then, work with a team of attorneys you can trust and start to build up a case. This may even lead to compensation being paid early since employers often prefer to settle out of court.
In the modern world, no one should feel in danger while at work in the contemporary world. However, accidents do unfortunately happen. The key test of an employer is how they respond to the accident. Make sure you gather plenty of evidence and work with experienced lawyers to achieve a fair outcome and get the compensation you deserve.
